Heroin Use
21 January 2010
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Of approximately 2.1 million "sometime" heroin users in the U.S., about 208,000 use it habitually. Heroin, an opiate drug that is synthesized from morphine, usually appears as a white or brown powder or a black sticky substance that can be injected, snorted, or smoked. Morphine is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin enters the brain and binds to opium receptors, which are involved in the perception of pain and reward. After an injection of heroin, users feel a surge of euphoria (rush). All users then go “on the nod”, feeling alternately wakeful and drowsy. Tolerance develops with regular heroin use, and more heroin is needed to achieve the same intensity of effect. An estimated 23% of individuals who use heroin become dependant on it. |
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Heroin abuse has serious adverse health affects, including fatal overdose, spontaneous aborting, and HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver or kidney disease. Heroin has depressing effects on respiration, which can cause the abuser to develop various types of pneumonia.
Chronic use of heroin leads to physical dependence. When a dependent user abruptly reduces or stops using heroin, he or shy may experience severe withdrawal symptoms, including restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes, and kicking movements. Major withdrawal symptoms last about one week, however, some individuals may show persistent withdrawal symptoms for a month.